Since the early days of headsets like the Oculus Rift, developers have merged classic platforming gameplay with VR. Titles such as Lucky’s Tale, Moss and Ven VR Adventure have all put their unique mark on the genre. The latest to do so is Bearly Escape from Time Traveller. But can this cute platformer offer something new, 131XR’s new Bearly Escape review finds out.
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What is Bearly Escape?
Going for the family-friendly, adorable factor, Bearly Escape puts you in control of a cuddly teddy bear who’s lost their pet dog, Robin. You come to find that, in fact, Robin, along with all the other local animals, has been kidnapped by a mad/evil/weird scientist called Dr. Kidd, who, for some strange reason, is trapping all the animals in claw machines!
Your job is to rescue all of those animals, including your beloved pet dog, solving puzzles and eventually playing a multitude of claw games to free them.
Bearly Escape Review
As 131XR’s review explains, Bearly Escape can be split into three gameplay components. The first is the core platforming. Just like Moss, you control your cuddly bear companion in a 2.5D world, manoeuvring platforms and other obstacles to get them through the linear environment. Secondly, there are puzzles to complete in a normal first-person view, manipulating switches, pipes and more to unlock the next part of the journey.
Finally, there are the claw machines. If you’ve ever been to a seaside arcade and dropped a few coins into these machines, you’ll know how these work. Control the claw to pick up the critters and drop them in the central hole to save them, awarding you a variety of bonuses as well. Thankfully, the claw machines in Bearly Escape are far more forgiving than in real life.
While all of this is fun, 131XR does find that there are components of Bearly Escape that feel like unnecessary additions. Even so, this doesn’t hamper the overall experience. Watch the full review of Bearly Escape below.
What’s Next?
Bearly Escape is an Early Access title for Meta Quest and SteamVR headsets. The first VR game from Time Traveller, the Early Access period is currently expected to last approximately three months. The team has said that: “In the full version, we may introduce some charming new characters and add more engaging levels and story endings. We encourage early access players to share their suggestions with us!”
Are you a puzzle platformer fan? Think you’ll give Bearly Escape a try? Let us know in the comments!
